Reports: Phillies Offered Ichiro Two Years, $14 Million

Reports: Phillies Offered Ichiro Two Years, $14 Million

Posted 12/13/2012 12:15:00 PM

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, the Phillies reportedly offered Ichiro a two-year, $14 million dollar contract that the 39-year-old outfielder ultimately turned down to resign with the Yankees.

As Ichiro signs with the Yankees, he'll be turning down a two-year, $14 million offer from the Phillies.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) December 13, 2012

If that is truly the case then that speaks loudly as to what the realistic outfield options are for this team going forward. Everyone assumed that they were in the hunt for one of Josh Hamilton, Nick Swisher and Cody Ross just to find out that the Phillies were trying to land a light-hitting right fielder.

Ichiro hit nine homeruns and notched 55 RBIs between Seattle and New York last season. He posted the lowest on-base percentage of his career last season at .307 and the second-lowest OPS+ at 95. While still a nice player, it's clear that he is in the twilight of his career. The Phillies need a big bat, preferably a righty, not a left-handed slap hitter.

Year	Age	Tm	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	OPS+
2001	27	SEA	157	*738*	*692*	127	*242*	34	8	8	69	56	14	30	53	.350	.381	.457	.838	126
2002	28	SEA	157	728	647	111	208	27	8	8	51	31	15	68	62	.321	.388	.425	.813	120
2003	29	SEA	159	725	679	111	212	29	8	13	62	34	8	36	69	.312	.352	.436	.788	112
2004	30	SEA	161	*762*	*704*	101	*262*	24	5	8	60	36	11	49	63	*.372*	.414	.455	.869	130
2005	31	SEA	*162*	739	679	111	206	21	12	15	68	33	8	48	66	.303	.350	.436	.786	113
2006	32	SEA	161	752	695	110	*224*	20	9	9	49	45	2	49	71	.322	.370	.416	.786	106
2007	33	SEA	161	736	678	111	*238*	22	7	6	68	37	8	49	77	.351	.396	.431	.827	122
2008	34	SEA	162	749	686	103	*213*	20	7	6	42	43	4	51	65	.310	.361	.386	.747	102
2009	35	SEA	146	678	639	88	*225*	31	4	11	46	26	9	32	71	.352	.386	.465	.851	129
2010	36	SEA	*162*	732	*680*	74	*214*	30	3	6	43	42	9	45	86	.315	.359	.394	.754	113
2011	37	SEA	161	721	*677*	80	184	22	3	5	47	40	7	39	69	.272	.310	.335	.645	86
2012	38	TOT	*162*	663	629	77	178	28	6	9	55	29	7	22	61	.283	.307	.390	.696	95
2012	38	SEA	95	423	402	49	105	15	5	4	28	15	2	17	40	.261	.288	.353	.642	84
2012	38	NYY	67	240	227	28	73	13	1	5	27	14	5	5	21	.322	.340	.454	.794	114
12 Yrs			1911	8723	8085	1204	2606	308	80	104	660	452	102	518	813	.322	.365	.419	.784	113
162 Game Avg.			162	739	685	102	221	26	7	9	56	38	9	44	69	.322	.365	.419	.784	113

SEA (12 yrs)			1844	8483	7858	1176	2533	295	79	99	633	438	97	513	792	.322	.366	.418	.784	113
NYY (1 yr)			67	240	227	28	73	13	1	5	27	14	5	5	21	.322	.340	.454	.794	114